Netanyahu delighted

Netanyahu and his far-right cabal of racist oppressors must be laughing with delight as trade unions urge Labour to adopt their preferred definition of antisemitism, which many Jewish groups believe precludes legitimate criticism of Israel.

Netanyahu and his far-right cabal must be laughing up their sleeves and patting themselves on the back, just as many Jewish groups the world over are deeply troubled by these developments.

Yes, it won’t be known to you if your only source of news is the British mainstream media, but many Jews do not support Israel’s ongoing and extreme violations of human rights, and explicitly reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism because it deligitimises criticism of Israel (whatever the GMB leadership might say).

Many Jewish groups do not support ‘internationally accepted’ definition

Here is what over 40 Jewish groups, the world over, including many in the UK, say about the IHRA definition:

Of particular concern is the usage of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, intentionally worded such that it equates legitimate criticisms of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism, as a means to suppress the former.

Betrayal

I call on the members of the GMB and Unison to express their disgust with their leaderships’ position on this issue, which surely amounts to a betrayal of what should be the values of any trade union worthy of the name: support for human rights and solidarity with the oppressed, the world over.

Tear up your cards

If the trade union leaders will not change their policies on the IHRA definition, then I expect members’ consciences will give them little choice but to tear up their membership cards.

In doing so, they would have my support and, I am sure, that of all the Jewish groups mentioned above (as well as, it goes without saying, the oppressed and dispossessed people of Palestine).